Tennis player Nick Kyrgios, provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine in Mallorca: "I have made a serious mistake"
The check was made during the Mallorca Championships and the Australian will not be able to play, train or attend tournaments while the measure lasts
PalmaThe International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has provisionally suspended Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios after he tested positive for cocaine in an anti-doping control carried out in June during the Mallorca Championships.
Kyrgios, 31, provided the sample on June 22, coinciding with the ATP 250 Mallorca tournament. On July 17, a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, as the ITIA reported this Wednesday in a statement.
Cocaine is considered a stimulant and a substance of abuse on WADA's prohibited list. Its use is prohibited during competitions in accordance with the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, although sanctions may be reduced if it is proven that the substance was consumed out of competition.
Due to the nature of the detected substance, the regulations establish a mandatory provisional suspension. The measure has been in force since August 4 and, while it lasts, Kyrgios will not be able to play, train, or attend any competition organized or authorized by international tennis bodies, the ATP, the WTA, Grand Slam tournaments, and state federations.
The Australian has the right to appeal against the provisional suspension, but has not done so yet, according to the ITIA. The final duration of the sanction will depend on the resolution of the case and the circumstances in which the consumption occurred.
“I take full responsibility”
Shortly before the ITIA made the suspension public, Kyrgios announced the positive result on social media. “I recently tested positive for cocaine in an anti-doping test in Mallorca. I have made a serious mistake and I take full responsibility,” he admitted.
The tennis player apologized to his followers, family, sponsors, and those around him. He also specifically addressed forgiveness to the children who follow him and assured that he felt "deeply disappointed" with himself.
Kyrgios linked the consumption to the physical and mental wear and tear caused by injuries in recent years, while emphasizing that these circumstances do not justify what he did. The Australian explained that he found it particularly difficult to accept that he was approaching the end of his professional career.
“At times I have felt helpless and alone. None of this justifies what I did,” he stated. The player also announced that for the next 28 days he would step away from social media and public life to focus on his recovery. This period, however, does not correspond to the duration of the sporting sanction, which is yet to be determined.
Kyrgios reached world number 13 in the rankings in October 2016, the best ranking of his career. His most notable success in an individual tournament was the 2022 Wimbledon final, in which he lost to Serbian Novak Djokovic. Injuries have considerably limited his presence on the circuit in recent seasons.
